Sterilizing apparatus



Aug. 17,, 1948. F. IRISH ETAL STERILIZING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1946 I N V EN TORS 1 Frank L. Irish Samuel Fe/dman ATTORNEY F. L. IRISH' ET AL STERILIZING APPARATUS Aug. '17, 1948.

2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1946 IN V EN TORS Frank L 1 H's/1 Sumac Feldman w ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 17, 1948 STERILIZING APPARATUS Frank L. Irish,

De Witt, and SamuelFeldman, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application September 11, 1946, Serial No. 696,166

Thisinvention relates to an improved sterilizing apparatusof the type wherein articles are stored "and sterilized preferably by exposure todisinfecting or germicidal fumes. I

This invention relatesmore particularly to a cabinet for storing and sterilizing one or more electric hair clippers or analogous instruments" having electric cords or the like which are permanently attached or not readily detachable.

Although the electric hair clipper is reputed to be a'source of trouble as a germ-carrying agent, satisfactory sterilizin means have not been available due to the clumsy shape and the size variations of such clippers and especially due to the presence of the electric cord attached to the clipper.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a durable sterilizing cabinet of inexpensive constructionfor conveniently and efficiently storing and sterilizing a number of instruments, such aselectric hair clippers, Without injury to the instruments or interference with their cords.

V 1 Further objects and advantages of the invention will be clear from the following description of the preferred embodiment of th'e inventionshown in the accompanying drawings. a

- In the drawings: 7

A Figure 1 is a sectional view inet taken "on the line l-I of Figure 2, showing one instrument supporting panel in the in'position and one in the out position;

Figure Zi s afront elevation of the cabinet showing both panels in their in positions and showing inbroken lines the exterior portions of the cords of two electric hair clippers as they appear when the instruments to which they are at tachd are being stored and sterilized within the cabinet;

Figure 3 15 a front view of a panel removedfrom the cabinet, and showing in broken lines'an electrichair clipper attached th'ereto; Figure}! isasectional view of the cabinet taken on the line 44 of Figure 1, showing in broken lines a clipper in place on the panel which isin the fout position in Figurel; g

w Fig'ure5is a sectional view of the cabinet'taken on the line 55 of Figu're 1, showing in broken lines a clipper in place on the panel which is in the finf position in Figure 1; V 1

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 4; V

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 'I- I of Figure 5; and 7 I Figure-bis a detail sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure ll I he cabinet I enclosing the'storage and sterilizing chamber Il'comprises a base I2, a casing" I3,' and a plurality of instrument supporting panels l4 (in' this instance, two rotatably through the cab Claims. (Cl. 21- 83) mounted on the casing, I3. The base I2 is adapt Y which could be mounted within chamber ed to be removably positionedon a marble counter or like supporting surface. The casing I3 fits over and is detachably secured to the base I I2, the casing I3 being thereby held rigidly in up- :righ't position. The rotatable panels I4 are provided with means for temporarily attaching thereto electric hair clippers or the like, and, by rotating the panels, the clippers may be located J either within the chamber I I for storage or sterilizing, or on the outside of the cabinet for easy removal and use. i The casing I3 is preferably formed by casting. it in one piece, and includes a front wall I5, side walls I6, a rear wall I1 and a top I8. The lower portions ofthe walls I5, I6 and [1, adjacent the base I2, extend substantially vertically, and the upper portions of these walls and the top I8 are rounded and inclined as illustrated, in order to provide a graceful appearing cabinet and to permit casting of the casing I3. I

The base I2, preferably also a casting, is shaped to fit within the lower portion of casin I3 and has a front wall 20, a rear wall 2I and side walls 22. Base I2 is provided with two raised domeshaped portions 23, shown in Figures 1 and 5, which are located substantially midway between the front and rear of base I2 and each'adjacent a different one of the side walls 22. Each dome portion 23 receives a rubber suction .cup 24 which is'fastened to base I2 by a screw 25 and a wing nut 26 for securely but detachably anchoring base I2 to a supporting surface. A container 21, preferably in' the form of a tray, as shown, adapted to hold an evaporating sterilizing agent such as formaldehyde solution, is placed on the central portion of base I2 to effect sterilization within the chamber I I. If desired, however, anyother suitable sterilizing agent may be employed, such as a bactericidal electric lamp (not shown) II. The front wall 20 of base I2 is inclined upward and rearward so that casing I3 may be readily placed over or removed from base I2 as hereinafter described. Casing I3 is removably secured to base I2 by two pins 28, riveted or otherwise fixed to rear wall 2I of the base I2 behind domes 23, and by a sprin latch. 29 fastened by screw 30 to the inside of front wall '20 of the base at its center. Bores 3| drilled in rear wall I! of the casing I3 receive the pins 28 while latch 29 clips over a ledge 32 formed on the inside of the front wall I5 of casing I3. 7 Each panel I4 is provided with an upper flange 35 and a lower flange 36, both extending themtire width of the panel. An upper pivot pin 31 is secured to flange 35 medially of the panel by a screw 38, and journals in a bore 39 in the top I8 of the casing. A lower pivot pin 40 is rigidly fixed at one end in a recess 4| formed in flange 36 3 medially of the panel l4. Flange 36 rests on a sill 42 formed in the lower portion of front wall l5, which sill is provided with a bore 43 in which pivot pin 40 is journaled. The panels M are thus mounted for rotation medially of their sides.

The clipper holding means for each panel H are arranged to face outward when the panel is in its out position. Each panel is provided with a loop '45 located near the top and a fork 46 located near the bottom of the panel, both adjustably held to the panel as by set screws 41. The loops 45 and the forks 46 are provided with rubber or like protective coverings 48 and 49, respectively, and a recess 5.0 is provided in the face of. each panel for receiving a protective pad preferably of felt. These holding means permit rapid insertion and removal of the clipper 52 without injury to the instrument and permit quick adjustment for clipper size and shape variations.

' In order to accommodate. the electric cord of the clipper and to permit the panel to be rotated from its out to its in position and back without. interference with the electric cord, an open.

channel 60. is provided longitudinally through the lower pivot pin M9. The channel 60 is open at the same side of the panel I4 on which the clipper holding means are located, so that the electric cord 6| of the clipper 52 may be freely received therein, as best shown in Figure 3. The recessin. the flange 38 in which the pivot pin is secured must of course also be open at the edge of the flange 36 as illustrated, so as not to block the channel 60. Also, the portion of front wall l5 adjacent the bore 43 must be provided with an opening {32; registering with the channel 68s,.asbest: shown in Figures 2, 6, and '7. A recess 63-. is: provided centrally of the front wall |5- immediately below the sill, 42 and the bore 43 in order to permit easy egress of the cord 5| from the lower end of the channel 80.. By virtue of this construction, the electric cord 6| dependin from the clipper 52 may be inserted laterally through the opening 62 into. channel '85! when the panel M is in its out position, and when the panel is rotated to its in position, the clipper 52 and the upper portion of its cord 6| will be carried into the chamber while. the remainder of the cord 6|: extends through the pivot pints to the outside of the; cabinet.

. On the clipper supporting side of each panel I l,

two notches 65' and 55 are formed in flange 39,.

each notch located adjacent a different. side of the panel; Adjacent. thelower end of each p-aneL. a stop pin 6;? is fixed in and projects upward from sill, as shown in Figures 1 and 8.. Thestop pin 67!: engages with notch 65 in the cooperating. panel M. when the panel is. in its. out position. and with notch '65 when. thev panel is in. its. in post.- t-ien. hese stop means limit the rotary movement. of the panels lit to I80 and provide full closure at each limit of rotation. Due to the in.- clined position of the panels [4, the weight of a clipper mounted ona panel M tends: to hold the panel closecL. and sealing strips 6.8,. preferably of rubber, are fixed to the l'l'lsidezef front wall l5 and extend around each of said panels to. further in-' suresa tight seal.

In the use of the invention, base I2 is laced upon a supporting surface, preferably between two barber chairs so that the electric hair clippers are readily available to each barber. After the suction cups 2-4 have been adjusted. to grip-the supporting. surface. tray 21 is provided with a. sterilizing agent and placed on the central portion of base |'2. Casin I3 is placed over base l2 in a rearwardly tilted position so as to locate the pins 28 within the bores 3|. Casin I3 is then swung forward and down until latch 29 snaps over ledge 32. Casing l3 may be released from base |2 by reaching through the opening for a panel M, disengaging latch 29 from ledge 32, and then tilting casin |3 rearward until pins 28 can be. disengaged from bores 3|. When casing I3 has been secured to base l2 and the panels |4 r0- tated to their out positions, the clippers may be mounted on the panels as shown in Figure 4, any necessary adjustment of loops 45 and forks 46 being made by means of the set screws 41. To store or sterilize the clippers within the chamber I l, the panels Mare rotated to their in positions, as shown in Figure 5, The clippers.

positioned on the panels I l are thus carried into chamber II, and the channeled pivot pins 40 carry the upper portons of cords 6| inside of the cabinet while permitting the lower portions of the cords to extend from the inside to the outside of the cabinet through channels 60 and recesses63,

:without either cord interfering with the other.

The free ends of the cords 6| may be provided with plugs and thus connected to suitably located conventional power outlets in the usual manner. It will be observed that the clippers are readily available, singly or together, without interfering with each other, merely by rotating one or both of the panels is 180 to their out positions.

The chamber II is substantially sealed with the panels l4 in either in position or "out position. The lower panel flange 36 and the sill 42 are so shaped, as best seen in Figures 1 and 8, as to provide close sealing contact therebetween in either position of panel closure, except at the pin 40. When a panel is in its out position, the channel fill of the pin 40 is entirely outside of the chamber II, as best shown in Figure 4, and hence no leakage of sterilizing fumes can then occur through the pin All When a panel is in its in position, the chamber II is in communication with the outside air through the channel 60', as best shown in Figur 5, but the channel 60 is then ordinarily almost closed by the cord 6|, as illustrated in Figure 7. If desired, the cords 6| may be provided with suitable soft rubber grommets to seal the lower ends. of the channels fiil when the clippers are in place on the panels |-4.

Although, in accordance with the patent statutes, we have thus described our invention in detail in the. best form in which it is known to us, it will. be evident to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. We desire to be limited, theref.ore, only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim: a

1. In an apparatus for accommodating, at least one instrument having anrattached electric cord or the like, a cabinet, forming a, substantially sealed chamber; said cabinet having. a panel mounted for rotation medially of its sides; means on said panel for holding a cord-carrying. instru ment with its cord depending; means on the lower end of said panel for receiving the upper portion of the instrument cord; said paneliibeing. so constructed and arranged as upon. rotation; in one: direction to. carry said instrument andsaid upper cord portion into said chamber while permitting. the cord to extend from inside to. outside of said cabinet, and. as upon. rotation in the other Jd rection to carry said instrument and said upper cord portion outside of said cabinet so as to be readily accessible for immediate use.

2. In an apparatus for accommodating a plurality of instruments having attached electric cords or the like, a cabinet forming a substantially sealed chamber; said cabinet having a plurality of panels mounted for rotation medially of their sides; means on said panels for holding cord-carrying instruments with their cords depending; means on the lower ends of said panels for receiving the upper portions of the instrument cords; said panels being so constructed and arranged as upon rotation in one direction to carry said instruments and said upper cord portions into said chamber while permitting the lower ends of said cords to extend from inside to outside of said cabinet, and as upon rotation in the other direction to carry said instruments and said upper cord portions outside of said cabinet so as to be readily accessible for immediate use; and means cooperating with said panels to limit the rotation of each panel to substantially I 180; said panels being operable independently and arranged so that said instruments and said cord portions are spaced from one another to avoid interference therebetween as said panels are rotated from one position to the other position.

3. In an apparatus for accommodating at least one instrument having an attached electric cord or the like, a cabinet forming a substantially sealed storage and sterilizing chamber; sterilizing means within said cabinet; said cabinet comprising a base and a separable casing; said cabinet having a panel mounted on said casing for rotation medially of its sides; means on said panel for releasably holding a cord-carrying instrument with its cord depending; means on the lower end of said panel for releasably receiving the upper cord portion of the instrument cord; means cooperating with said panel to limit its rotation to substantially 180; said panel being so constructed and arranged as upon rotation in one direction to carry said instrument and said upper cord portion into said chamber for storage and sterilizing while permitting the lower end of said cord to extend from inside to outside of said cabinet, and as upon rotation in the other direction to carry said instrument and said upper cord portion outside of said cabinet so as to be readily accessible for immediate use; and said cord receiving means being so constructed as substantially to prevent the escape of air from said chamber when said door panel is in either position of closure.

4. In an apparatus for accommodating at least one instrument having an attached electric cord or the like, the combination of a vertically disposed cabinet forming a substantially sealed storage and sterilizing chamber; said cabinet comprising a casing and a base; means for securing said casing removably to said base; suction cup means for anchoring said base to a substantially horizontal supporting surface; a container in said chamber for holding a sterilizing agent for generating sterilizing fumes; a panel mounted on said casing for rotation medially of its sides and adapted to close an opening in sa d casing; means cooperating with said panel to limit its rotation to substantially 180; sealing means around the inside edge of the panel opening; ad-

justable holding means on one side of said panel for releasably holding said instrument; said panel being characterized by the provision of a lower pivot pin having a cord receiving channel along its length; said pin being rigidly fixed to the lower portion of the panel for rotation therewith; the lower portion of said pin being journaled in the lower portion of said casing; said pin in combination with said panel being so constructed that when said panel is rotated to its out position, said instrument may be positioned in said instrument holding means and its upper cord portion may be releasably inserted in said channel, and that when said panel is rotated to its in position, said instrument and its upper cord portion will be carried from outside to inside of said cabinet, while permitting the cord received in said channel to extend from inside to outside of said cabinet; and said pin being so constructed as substantially to prevent the escape of air from said chamber when said panel is in either position of closure.

5. In an apparatus for accommodating a plurality of instruments having attached electric cords or the like, the combination of a vertically disposed cabinet forming a substantially sealed storage and sterilizing chamber; said cabinet comprising a casing and a base; means for securing said casing removably to said base; suction cup means for anchoring said base to a substantially horizontal supporting surface; a container in said chamber for holding'a sterilizing agent for generating sterilizing fumes; a plurality of panels mounted on said casing for rotation medially of their sides, each panel being adapted to close an opening in said casing; means cooperating with said panels to limit their rotation to substantially sealing means around the inside edges of the panel openings; adjustable holding means on one side of each panel for releasably holding one of said instruments; each of said panels being characterized by the provision of a lower pivot pin having a cord-receiving channel along its length; each pin being rigidly fixed to the lower portion of the panel for rotation therewith; the lower portion of each pin being journ'aled in the lower portion of the casing; said pins in combination with said panels being so constructed that when a panel is rotated to its on position, one of said instruments may be positioned in said instrument holding means and its upper cord portion may be releasably inserted in said channel, and that when said panel is rotated to its in position, said instrument and its upper cord portion will be carried from outside to inside of said cabinet, while permitting the cord received in said chan-- nel to extend from inside to outside of the cabinet; said pins being so constructed as substantially to prevent the escape of air from said chamberwhen said panels are in either position of closure; and said panels being so constructed as to be operable independently, whereby said instruments and said cords are prevented from interfering with each other, and whereby one instrument may be rotated to out position for use, while another instrument is in the in position for storage and sterilizing.

FRANK L. IRISH. SAMUEL 

